REPORTS OF STORAGE HOLDINGS. 3 
The present bulletin reviews the reports received during 1918 on 
the storage holdings of frozen and cured meats, lard, frozen fish, cured 
herring, and mild cured salmon. A series of tables shows the frozen 
and cured meat holdings at the peak load of the season for that com- 
modity, segregated by sections. These tables include the number of 
storages reporting for a certain date in each geographical section, and 
the holdings of these firms. They also furnish comparisons between 
the stocks reported on these dates with the stocks reported for the 
same dates of the previous year. The comparison is based on the 
storages reporting for both dates. 
For each variety of meat products and fish, another table shows 
the holdings of each month on the date of reporting and the relation, 
expressed in percentage, of the holdings of each month to the peak 
load of the season and the increase or decrease during each month, 
both in actual number of pounds and in percentage. The holdings 
in these tables are based on the actual number of pounds reported, 
plus an estimate of the stocks of the storages that failed to report. 
The estimates of the stocks of the unreported firms are based on their 
holdings reported for the preceding month. It is assumed that the,, 
percentage of increase or decrease in their stocks was the same as the’ 
percentage of increase or decrease in the stocks of the storages that 
reported. The unreported stocks in any month never amount to 
more than 1 per cent of the total holdings. 
Another series of tables shows the quantities reported and the. 
comparison of the holdings of each month with those of the same 
date in the preceding year. This comparison also is based, in each . 
case, on the storages reporting for both dates. 
Two series of charts are included in this bulletin. One series shows 
graphically the comparative monthly holdings during 1918, based on 
the tables of monthly holdings, including estimates. The other series | 
covers meats only, showing graphically the relative monthly Talis: 
for the years 1916 to 1918, inclusive. 
' Each chart in this latter series shows the relation, expressed in 
percentage, of each month’s holdings of the particular commodity to 
the peak load holdings of the entire three years. They are based on 
the monthly increases and decreases as compiled in the regular monthly 
reports of the Bureau of Markets. In making such comparisons the 
reports of those firms having no holdings on one of the dates compared 
are included. If a firm begins business or ceases business in the inter- 
vening period, it is included in the comparison as having no holdings 
on the date on which it is not in business. 
